What is Ergonomics in the Workplace?

Ergonomics is hugely important in the workplace, but what is it? And how can it change the way you work? From adjustable chairs to specialist tools, here’s how ergonomics can make your job easier.

How Can Ergonomics Help My Workplace?

Before anything else, you’ve got to understand what ergonomics is. Ergonomics is all about designing the tools and furniture around us to make things as easy, efficient, safe and healthy as possible.

It’s about chairs that allow you to sit properly, desks at the right height, and machinery that’s easy to operate safely. As you can imagine, that means ergonomics has quite a big role to play in the workplace.

When it comes to improving ergonomics in the workplace, there’s some clear benefits to everyone involved. You can expect fewer injuries, fewer employees experiencing pain, increased productivity and increased morale.

People like it when their safety and preferences are taken into account, because you can’t really expect someone who’s six foot five and someone who’s five foot to be able to use the exact same chair and desk set up, especially not for long hours of the workday.

Many companies hire a specialist ergonomic consultant to thoroughly assess their workspace, observe how the team works and then suggest and implement practical solutions to improve performance.

Why is Ergonomics Important in Your Workplace?

Put simply, it’s important because businesses run on people, and if you want your employees to work like reliable cogs in the machine, you need to treat them right, and not put them under undue stress. Only through doing this can you maximise efficiency, and that’s talking from a managerial perspective.

From the employees perspective, just having your physical well-being taken into account properly can be a big morale booster, and allow you to avoid all kinds of unpleasant chronic issues that could result in claims against your employer, time off work, or simply inefficiency.

What are Ergonomic Hazards in the Workplace?

In the modern office, the single biggest ergonomic hazard is always going to be awkward posture. Sitting down for long periods isn’t particularly healthy, and it’s even worse if you’re doing it wrong, which is all too easy if your chair, desk or even company vehicle is less than ideal.

In other workplaces, such as workshops or factories, ergonomic risk factors are everywhere. It’s all about tools that require the least amount of strain and effort, and a set-up and design that encourages employees to do things safely and efficiently. Lifting is a huge element, necessitating training, equipment, and limiting what employees have to lift regularly.

While workplace ergonomics covers a huge range of different problems, all it really comes down to is efficiency. If you’re doing something healthily and naturally, it’s always going to be more efficient. That makes for a productivity and health win-win for all.

Ergonomics isn’t just the best way to get the most out of your employees, but it’s a great way to make them feel appreciated and prioritised, and it really doesn’t have to cost a lot, especially not when it’s mostly just common sense changes and modifications with the right eye. It quickly pays for itself as well.